Sud (
French) or Sid (
Haitian Creole
Haitian Creole (; ht, kreyòl ayisyen, links=no, ; french: créole haïtien, links=no, ), commonly referred to as simply ''Creole'', or ''Kreyòl'' in the Creole language, is a French-based creole language spoken by 10–12million people wor ...
; both meaning "South") is one of the ten
departments of Haiti
In the administrative divisions of Haiti, the department (french: département d'Haïti, ; ht, depatman Ayiti) is the first of four levels of government. Haiti is divided administratively into ten departments, which are further subdivided into 42 ...
and located in southern Haiti. It has an area of and a population of 774,976.
Its capital is
Les Cayes
Les Cayes ( , ), often referred to as Aux Cayes (; ht, Okay), is a commune and seaport in the Les Cayes Arrondissement, in the Sud department of Haiti, with a population of 71,236. Due to its isolation from the political turmoil of the capita ...
.
History
Taino Period
The department was part of the
Xaragua kingdom. The area of Aquin was known as Yakimo a Taino settlement. The island of Vache was named Anigua.
Spanish Period
The area of Les Cayes was a Spanish settlement known as Salvatierra de la Sabana or Land Saved from the Water or Sea.
French Period
Much like the N-O, the South Department was a pirate hub with famous pirates such as Henri Morgan and many more hiding their loot on the multitude of islands from
Grosse Caye
Grosse Caye ( ht, Gwòskay) is an island of Haiti which is located in Sud, east of Île-à-Vache
Île-à-Vache, (French, also expressed Île-à-Vaches, former Spanish name Isla Vaca; all translate to Cow Island) is a Caribbean island, one of ...
s to
Isle-à-Vache.
Haitian Revolution
The South, in general, was Rigaudin since was under the control of
André Rigaud
Benoit Joseph André Rigaud (17 January 1761 – 18 September 1811) was the leading mulatto military leader during the Haitian Revolution. Among his protégés were Alexandre Pétion and Jean-Pierre Boyer, both future presidents of Haïti.
Ea ...
until it definitely switches the hand of
Toussaint and the Louverturien. This conflict is known as the Haitian War of Knives opposing two political and economical groups in Haiti even before independence: the Nouveaux-Libres and the Anciens-Libres.
In 1793 after The Great North rebelled after the
Bwa-Kayiman Congress, the South was the scene of a group of maroons taking control of a French post at the heights of Les Cayes i
Platonsand establish their camp. Those maroons were never captured and went higher to Macaya at the attack of the
Expedition Troops.
The alliance between the Rigaudin and Louverturien was consolidated at the Congress of Camp-Gerrard, on July 5, 1803, where Dessalines became the leader of the Indigènes Army. Boisrond Tonnerre became a member of Dessalines état-major and
Nicolas Geffrard general of the South.
Haitian Period
On October 16, 1803 Nicolas Geffrard Sr. and Coco Herne freed the city of Les Cayes from the french expedition troops under the leadership of Brunet.
Nicolas Geffrard commander of the south and Coco Herne commander of Les Cayes are signatories of the
Haitian Declaration of Independence
The Haitian Declaration of Independence was proclaimed on 1 January 1804 in the port city of Gonaïves by Jean-Jacques Dessalines, marking the end of 13-year long Haitian Revolution. The declaration marked Haiti becoming the first independent nati ...
.
After the assassination of the Emperor, Haiti was divided into two de jure states, a
monarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which a person, the monarch, is head of state for life or until abdication. The political legitimacy and authority of the monarch may vary from restricted and largely symbolic (constitutional monarchy) ...
and a republic. With the return of André Rigaud, the South became a distinct state separating from Port-au-Prince.
With Michel Domingue, the south claime
separationagain.
In 1843, the Manifest o
with
Charles Rivière Hérard overthrow the president
Jean-Pierre Boyer
Jean-Pierre Boyer (15 February 1776 – 9 July 1850) was one of the leaders of the Haitian Revolution, and President of Haiti from 1818 to 1843. He reunited the north and south of the country into the Republic of Haiti in 1820 and also annexed ...
.
Demography
A significant part of the population in this department is of mixed race, people of
Arab
The Arabs (singular: Arab; singular ar, عَرَبِيٌّ, DIN 31635: , , plural ar, عَرَب, DIN 31635: , Arabic pronunciation: ), also known as the Arab people, are an ethnic group mainly inhabiting the Arab world in Western Asia, ...
descent and from the
Indian
Indian or Indians may refer to:
Peoples South Asia
* Indian people, people of Indian nationality, or people who have an Indian ancestor
** Non-resident Indian, a citizen of India who has temporarily emigrated to another country
* South Asia ...
subcontinent. These southern parts of Haiti are where many residents
Europeans
Europeans are the focus of European ethnology, the field of anthropology related to the various ethnic groups that reside in the states of Europe. Groups may be defined by common genetic ancestry, common language, or both. Pan and Pfeil (2004) ...
descended to during tense political turmoil and, in more recent years, have returned and settled alongside
black Haitians. Nowadays, this area of the country has become one of the most racially diverse (excluding
Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince ( , ; ht, Pòtoprens ) is the capital and most populous city of Haiti. The city's population was estimated at 987,311 in 2015 with the metropolitan area estimated at a population of 2,618,894. The metropolitan area is define ...
).
Geography
The department is bordered to the north by the
Grand'Anse and
Nippes
Nippes ( French) or Nip ( Haitian Creole) is one of the ten departments (the highest-level political subdivisions) of Haiti located in southern Haiti. It is the most recently created department, having been split from Grand'Anse in 2003. The ...
, to the west the
Winward Passage connecting to
Jamaica
Jamaica (; ) is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea. Spanning in area, it is the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean (after Cuba and Hispaniola). Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, and west of His ...
, south by the
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea ( es, Mar Caribe; french: Mer des Caraïbes; ht, Lanmè Karayib; jam, Kiaribiyan Sii; nl, Caraïbische Zee; pap, Laman Karibe) is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean in the tropics of the Western Hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico ...
and to the east by the
South-East Department.
The
Pic Macaya
Pic Macaya (Macaya Peak) is the second-highest mountain in Haiti (after Pic la Selle), rising to an elevation of above sea level. It is located in the Massif de la Hotte, northwest of Les Cayes and west of Port-au-Prince. The mountain is lo ...
is an ecological reserve on the north side. The Port-Salut Peninsula extends into the Caribbean Sea. From Flamand to
Aquin
Aquin (; ht, Aken) is a commune in the Aquin Arrondissement, in the Sud department of Haiti. It is a port on the south coast of the Tiburon Peninsula
The Tiburon Peninsula (french: Péninsule de Tiburon), or The Xaragua Peninsula, simpl ...
there is a multitude of minor bays. The south is the province with the most islands, cays, and reefs giving it a particular charm and unique scenery. Some of the notabl
islandsare:
* Isle-à-Vache
* Boyer
* Moustique
* Ramier
* Grosse-Caye
Locals call them ''zilè'' (islands) versus ''granntè'' (mainland)
Many rivers cross through the South notably
* La Ravine du Sud
* Cavaillon
Grotte Marijàn's Caveis the biggest in Haiti and one of the biggest in the Caribbean.
Economy
Agriculture
The heart of the department is la Plaine des Cayes one of Haiti's biggest plains, where farmers grow notably rice
Many families leave with fishing activities transforming multiple cays into seasonal fishermen settlements.
Tourism
The South is reputed of having some of Haiti's most pristine beaches such as:
*
Port-Salut
Port-Salut is a coastal commune in the Sud department of Haiti.
Port-Salut is a popular destination for local Haitians, as well as tourists, due to the surrounding beaches.
Port-Salut is the hometown of Haiti's former president, Jean-Bertr ...
*
Gelée
Transport
The main road through the Department is the RN2 connecting
Okay
''OK'' (spelling variations include ''okay'', ''O.K.'', ''ok'' and ''Ok'') is an English word (originating in American English) denoting approval, acceptance, agreement, assent, acknowledgment, or a sign of indifference. ''OK'' is frequently ...
to
Miragwàn and
Pòtoprens
The RD203 connects to
Jacmel
Jacmel (; ht, Jakmèl) is a commune in southern Haiti founded by the Spanish in 1504 and repopulated by the French in 1698. It is the capital of the department of Sud-Est, 24 miles (39 km) southwest of Port-au-Prince across the Tiburon Peninsu ...
.
The RD205 connects to
Tiburon.
Les Cayes is a major port town.
Due to political troubles in Port-au-Prince, many locals are considering a port and oil terminal in
St-Louis du Sud, making the South completely autonomous.
Les Cayes has a national airport Antoine-Simon, which has the potential for International flights connecting Haiti to Jamaica and Venezuela.
Isle-à-Vache has an airport strip and heliport.
Administrative divisions
The Department of Sud is subdivided into five
arrondissement
An arrondissement (, , ) is any of various administrative divisions of France, Belgium, Haiti, certain other Francophone countries, as well as the Netherlands.
Europe
France
The 101 French departments are divided into 342 ''arrondissements' ...
s, which are further subdivided into nineteen
communes
An intentional community is a voluntary residential community which is designed to have a high degree of social cohesion and teamwork from the start. The members of an intentional community typically hold a common social, political, relig ...
.
*
Aquin Arrondissement
Aquin ( ht, Aken) is an arrondissement in the Sud Department of Haiti. As of 2015, the population was 217,827 inhabitants. Postal codes in the Aquin Arrondissement start with the number 83.
It contains the following communes:
* Aquin
* Cavaill ...
**
Aquin
Aquin (; ht, Aken) is a commune in the Aquin Arrondissement, in the Sud department of Haiti. It is a port on the south coast of the Tiburon Peninsula
The Tiburon Peninsula (french: Péninsule de Tiburon), or The Xaragua Peninsula, simpl ...
**
Cavaillon
Cavaillon (; Provençal: ''Cavalhon'') is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of Southeastern France.
**
Saint-Louis du Sud
*
Chardonnières Arrondissement
**
Chardonnières
**
Les Anglais
Les Anglais ( ht, Zanglè), French for "The English", is a commune in the Chardonnières Arrondissement, in the Sud department of Haiti. It has 27,182 inhabitants. The eye of Hurricane Matthew made landfall near Les Anglais on 4 October ...
**
Tiburon
*
Côteaux Arrondissement
Côteaux ( ht, Koto) is an arrondissement
An arrondissement (, , ) is any of various administrative divisions of France, Belgium, Haiti, certain other Francophone countries, as well as the Netherlands.
Europe
France
The 101 French depart ...
**
Côteaux
Côteaux ( ht, Koto) is a commune
A commune is an alternative term for an intentional community. Commune or comună or comune or other derivations may also refer to:
Administrative-territorial entities
* Commune (administrative division), a mun ...
**
Port-à-Piment
Port-à-Piment ( ht, Pòtapiman disid) is a commune in the Côteaux Arrondissement
Côteaux ( ht, Koto) is an arrondissement
An arrondissement (, , ) is any of various administrative divisions of France, Belgium, Haiti, certain other Francop ...
**
Roche-à-Bateaux
*
Les Cayes Arrondissement
Les Cayes, often referred to as Aux Cayes ( ht, Okay) is an arrondissement in the Sud department of Haiti. As of 2015, the population was 346,276 inhabitants.
Postal codes in the Les Cayes Arrondissement start with the number 81.
The arondisse ...
**
Les Cayes
Les Cayes ( , ), often referred to as Aux Cayes (; ht, Okay), is a commune and seaport in the Les Cayes Arrondissement, in the Sud department of Haiti, with a population of 71,236. Due to its isolation from the political turmoil of the capita ...
**
Camp-Perrin
Camp-Perrin ( ht, Kanperen) is a commune in the Les Cayes Arrondissement, in the Sud department of Haiti. It has 40,962 inhabitants.
History
The city of Camp-Perrin was created during the eighteenth century when three Frenchmen (Colon de Fra ...
**
Chantal
Chantal () is a feminine given name of French origin. The name Chantal can be traced back to the Old Occitan word ''cantal'', meaning "stone." It came into popular use as a given name in honor of the Catholic saint, Jeanne de Chantal. It may als ...
**
Île à Vache (island)
**
Maniche
Nuno Ricardo de Oliveira Ribeiro (born 11 November 1977), known as Maniche (), is a Portuguese retired professional footballer who played as a central midfielder.
He played top flight football in Portugal, Russia, England, Spain, Italy and Ge ...
**
Torbeck
*
Port-Salut Arrondissement
Port-Salut ( ht, Pòsali) is an arrondissement in the Sud department of Haiti. As of 2015, the population was 73,845 inhabitants. Postal codes in the Port-Salut Arrondissement start with the number 82.
The arondissement consists of the followin ...
**
Port-Salut
Port-Salut is a coastal commune in the Sud department of Haiti.
Port-Salut is a popular destination for local Haitians, as well as tourists, due to the surrounding beaches.
Port-Salut is the hometown of Haiti's former president, Jean-Bertr ...
**
Arniquet
Arniquet ( ht, Anikè) is a commune in the Port-Salut Arrondissement, in the Sud department of Haiti
Haiti (; ht, Ayiti ; French: ), officially the Republic of Haiti (); ) and formerly known as Hayti, is a country located on the isla ...
**
Saint-Jean-du-Sud
Saint-Jean-du-Sud ( ht, Sen Jan disid) is a commune in the Port-Salut Arrondissement, in the Sud department of Haiti
Haiti (; ht, Ayiti ; French: ), officially the Republic of Haiti (); ) and formerly known as Hayti, is a country locat ...
References
External links
Lenouvelleliste.com
Departments of Haiti
{{Haiti-geo-stub